Rising Mettur dam level raises samba' hopes for Delta farmers

Thanjavur: Farmers of Thanjavur district are pinning hopes on the storage at Mettur dam which has shown some improvement in the past few days, following an active Southwest monsoon, for taking up 'samba (long-term paddy)' cultivation.

Having lost the short-term 'kuruvai' crop in canal irrigated areas this year, they are in dire need of long-term 'samba' crop, which they hope may be successful with Mettur storage and a good Northeast monsoon in November-December.
With 20,445 cusecs of water flowing into Mettur dam on Thursday evening, the level stood at 49.68 ft and storage was 17.61 tmcft. Nearly 700 cusecs of water is released for drinking water purpose from the dam.

"If the inflow into the dam continued at the same quantity, there is every likelihood of increase in level and storage and when once the level reaches 85 feet to 90 feet, the dam can be opened for 'samba'. If the storage improves, the dam can be opened for 'samba' in the first week of September" said many farmers.

Last year (2016), the dam was opened on September 20. In 2015, it was opened on August 9, in 2014 on August 10, in 2013 August 2 and in 2012, on September 17. There was no 'Kuruvai' in canal irrigated areas in all these years.
S.Ranganathan, secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association said that southwest monsoon was active over many areas in the last few days.

There has been a steady increase in the inflows into Mettur dam, Ranganathan said and called for building up storage at Mettur reservoir so that water can be released by mid-Septmeber for 'samba'.

While welcoming releasing water for drinking purpose, he cautioned that care should be taken that much water is not wasted. "It appears that water is used for industrial purposes in Karur and other districts. This should be avoided."  He appealed to Tamil Nadu government to conserve water as far as possible.

'Samba' will provide food security and this is possible only in Cauvery delta where paddy is cultivated and only horticulture crops like banana, turmeric are cultivated in districts like Karur and Erode," Ranganathan said.

Sami Nadarajan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to CPI (M) also said that farmers of Cauvery delta could hope for taking a good 'samba' crop this year.  There is every likelihood of storage at Mettur dam going up. Like last year, the dam could be opened either in the first week of September or second week. Once the crop is raised, farmers could manage and sustain it using Northeast monsoon, Nadarajan said.